By Justin Fitzgerald
After scoring 102 points in the season opener, the Terps continued to pour it on in a 105-50 win against High Point. Maryland improved to 2-0 with the win, while High Point dropped to 1-2. Shartori Walker-Kimbrough had 26 points to lead Maryland, surpassing the career high she set in this years’ season opener. Walker-Kimbrough also pulled in 10 rebounds, tying her career high set last year against American.
“Sharotori’s been so consistent, coming out back-to-back games, leading this team with her energy and her intensity. She’s setting the tone for us,” head coach Brenda Frese said.
The win came with members of the 2005-06 national championship team in attendance, including NCAA Tournament Most Outstanding Player Laura Harper, who is now a High Point assistant coach.
The Terps got out to a fast start, getting out to a 12-2 run before High Point called a timeout with just 7:29 left in the first quarter. The Panthers cut the lead to 18-11, but that was the closest they got. The Terps ended the first quarter ahead 25-14, and went on a 16-0 run to end the second quarter and extend the lead to 48-20.
Walker-Kimbrough had 19 in the first half, along with eight rebounds, and contributed six in the run to end the half. Besides scoring 26 points, Walker-Kimbrough made an impact in setting the tempo, always looking to push the ball off a missed High Point shot and continuing to attack even after the Terps built a large lead.
“I like to lead by example by making plays for my teammates, whether it be offensive or defensively,” Walker-Kimbrough said.
The Terps continued to push the tempo in the second half, and put on an occasional full-court press into the fourth quarter. They didn’t finally stop pushing the ball until the final possession, when guards Brene Moseley and Kiara Leslie ran out the clock.
In addition to Walker-Kimbrough’s career night, freshman Kiah Gillespie showed improvement in her second career game, adding 19 points and seven rebounds. Gillespie showed her versatility early in the second half when she scored 10 points in the first five minutes of the third quarter. She scored four points in the paint to begin the quarter, then added back to back three pointers two minutes later.
Tonight’s’ win was the 399th of Brenda Frese’s career, and she will look to get her 400th when the Terps take on Detroit at home on Friday at 11 a.m.
